Tylenol
Tylenol is a North American brand of drugs advertised for relieving pain, reducing fever, and relieving the symptoms of allergies, cold, cough, and flu. The active ingredient of its original, flagship product, acetaminophen (called "paracetamol" outside North America), is marketed as an analgesic and antipyretic. Like the words "acetaminophen" and "paracetamol", the brand name is derived from the chemical name for the compound, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP).[1] The brand is owned by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.[2]
Contents
History
James Roth, a U.S. gastroenterologist, advocated paracetamol as a safer alternative to aspirin, which was shown to have some negative effects. Roth was also principal consultant to McNeil Laboratories. In 1953, McNeil Laboratories introduced Algoson, a preparation containing paracetamol together with sodium butabarbital, a sedative. In 1955, McNeil Laboratories introduced Tylenol Elixir for children, which contained paracetamol as its sole active ingredient. It was originally marketed mainly towards children, but soon came to dominate the North American pain-killer market. There are a number of different varieties of Tylenol available today including extra-strength (with 500 milligrams of acetaminophen), children's doses, longer-lasting, and sleep aiding (in combination with diphenhydramine). In 2005, Tylenol Ultra was introduced in Canada, with 500 mg of acetaminophen and 65 mg of caffeine; caffeine has vasoconstricting effects, for which there is some disputed evidence for additional effectiveness.[3][4] The patent on paracetamol has long expired, and the continued success of Tylenol brand preparations are largely due to marketing,[citation needed] the backing and reputation of Johnson & Johnson, and new patented delivery mechanisms such as quick-release and extended-release forms of the medication.[citation needed]
1982 Chicago Tylenol murders and first recall
On September 29, 1982, a "Tylenol scare" began when the first of seven individuals died in metropolitan Chicago, after ingesting Extra Strength Tylenol that had been deliberately contaminated with cyanide. Within a week, the company pulled 31 million bottles of tablets back from retailers, making it one of the first major recalls in American history.[5]
The crime was never solved and Tylenol sales temporarily collapsed, but the brand was rebuilt and recovered in a few years. At the request of later Chairman, Joseph Chiesa, new product consultant Calle & Company rescued the brand with the invention of the first inherently tamper-proof [enrobed] capsule, Tylenol Gelcaps, recapturing the 92% of capsule segment sales lost after the cyanide incident. The scare led to the introduction of tamper-evident packaging and "gelcaps" across the over-the-counter drug (OTC) and prescription drug industry.[5]
Tylenol remains a top seller, controlling about 35% of the pain killer market in North America.[6]
2010 Tylenol recall
On January 15, 2010, 20 months after first receiving consumer complaints, Johnson & Johnson announced a voluntary recall of several hundred batches of popular medicines, including Benadryl, Motrin, Rolaids, Simply Sleep, St. Joseph Aspirin and Tylenol.[7] The recall was due to complaints of a musty smell which is suspected to be due to contamination of the packaging with the chemical 2,4,6-tribromoanisole.[8] The full health effects of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole are not known but no serious events have been documented in the medical literature.[9] The recall came 20 months after McNeil first began investigating consumer complaints about moldy-smelling bottles of Tylenol Arthritis Relief caplets, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration. The recall included 53 million bottles of over-the-counter products including Tylenol, Motrin and Rolaids, Benadryl and St. Joseph's Aspirin, involving lots in the Americas, the United Arab Emirates and Fiji.[10]
On April 30, 2010, another recall was issued for 40 products including liquid infant and children's pain relievers, Tylenol, and Motrin and allergy medications Zyrtec and Benadryl.[10] A Food and Drug Administration report said its inspectors found thick dust and grime covering certain equipment, a hole in the ceiling and duct tape-covered pipes at the Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, facility that made 40 products recalled.[11]
On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, the FDA confirmed[12] that the bacteria found at the Johnson & Johnson plant that made the recalled Children's Tylenol was Burkholderia cepacia, a bacteria often resistant to common antibiotics.[13] The CDC has stated that Burkholderia cepacia is not likely to cause health problems for those with healthy immune systems but those with weaker ones and those with chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, could be more susceptible to infection.
Dangers
The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (September 2010) |
Acetaminophen causes three times as many cases of liver failure as all other drugs combined,[14] and is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States,[15][16] accounting for 39% of cases.
The 2010 International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood found that adolescents who take acetaminophen, the active ingredient of Tylenol, have an increased likelihood of suffering from allergic nasal conditions, eczema and asthma.[17]
Tylenol products
Tylenol sells products to relieve pain, allergies, and cold- and flu- related symptoms. Allergy and cold products also contain dextromethorphan, antihistamines, and expectorants.
Tylenol is also sold as a class of stronger pain relievers containing codeine, known as co-codamols: Tylenol 1 contains 325 mg acetaminophen and 8 mg codeine; Tylenol 2 contains 300 mg/15 mg, Tylenol 3 (300 mg/30 mg),Tylenol 4 (300 mg/60 mg, and Tylenol 5 (300 mg/90 mg). In Canada, Tylenol 1, 2 and 3 all include 15 mg caffeine, in addition to the above ingredients; furthermore, Tylenol 1 is sold in Canada without a prescription, while all forms of Tylenol with codeine require a prescription in the US.
Acetaminophen is also found in other narcotic-based analgesics such as Percocet which contains oxycodone or Lortab which contains hydrocodone.
Tylenol PM
Tylenol PM is the trademark for a mixture of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and diphenhydramine, distributed by Johnson & Johnson. It is marketed as a combined analgesic and sedative. It is listed as non-habit forming. Diphenhydramine is an anticholinergic used as the active ingredient in Benadryl, for its antihistamine properties, and Benylin, which is used in cough and cold therapy as an anti-cough (anti-tussive) medication.
Tylenol Concern Relating to Asthma
An article published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care titled Acetaminophen [Tylenol] Use and Risk of Asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis and Eczema in Adolescents, can readily be found at http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/201005-0757OCv1
Advertisements
Tylenol has many different advertisement approaches. One of these advertisement campaigns focuses on “getting you back to normal”, where as the other commercials focus on Tylenol’s current slogan, “Feel better, Tylenol”. In the “Feel better, Tylenol” commercials, Tylenol places emphasis on the importance of sleep; various people are seen sleeping in this commercial while a voiceover describes how sleep can help repair and heal the human body during times of aches and pains.[18] In the “getting you back to normal” commercial, Tylenol places more emphasis on helping its consumers get back to their daily routines; many different people are shown first experiencing headaches and other sorts of body pain, where a voiceover then states that Tylenol Rapid Release can help rid aches and pains; the various people are then showed enjoying their everyday lives, and are seen as “back to normal”.[19] In an older commercial from 1986, Tylenol emphasizes that it is the drug that American hospitals trust the most. In this ad, Susan Sullivan tells the consumer that Tylenol is a drug that can be trusted by Americans since many doctors also trust it; she goes on to state that doctors prescribe Tylenol four times more often than the other leading pain relieving drugs combined.[20]
See also
References
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag;
parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />External links
cs:Tylenol yi:טיילענאל- ↑ History of TYLENOL – McNeil Consumer Healthcare Company.
- ↑ Euromonitor International. Acetaminophen benefits from concerns surrounding safety of analgesics
- ↑ Diener H, Pfaffenrath V, Pageler L, Peil H, Aicher B (2005). "The fixed combination of acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol and caffeine is more effective than single substances and dual combination for the treatment of headache: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, single-dose, placebo-controlled parallel group study". Cephalalgia. 25 (10): 776–87. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2005.00948.x. PMID 16162254. - which concludes "the fixed combination of ... caffeine was statistically significantly superior to the combination without caffeine"
- ↑ Loder E (2005). "Fixed drug combinations for the acute treatment of migraine : place in therapy". CNS Drugs. 19 (9): 769–84. doi:10.2165/00023210-200519090-00004. PMID 16142992. - which notes that "benefits assumed for ... caffeine ... are not clearly confirmed in these trials"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 New York Times article: "Tylenol made a hero of Johnson & Johnson : The recall that started them all."
- ↑ Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity, William M. Lee, New England Journal of Medicine, July 31, 2003, 349:474-485.
- ↑ In Recall, a Role Model Stumbles, Natasha Singer, New York Times, 17 January 2010
- ↑ Tylenol recall expands, WebMD, accessed 1-17-2010.
- ↑ McNeil Consumer Healthcare Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Over-The-Counter (OTC) Products In The Americas, UAE, and Fiji
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 FACTBOX-Johnson & Johnson's recent product recalls
- ↑ Grime, dust, bacteria found at J&J plant: FDA (Reuters, May 4, 2010
- ↑ Bacteria Identified in Recall
- ↑ Kavilanz, Parija (6 May 2010). "Bacteria identified in Tylenol recall". CNN. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
- ↑ Warnings Sought for Popular Painkiller by Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, Published: September 20, 2002
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Citation/CS1/Suggestions' not found.
- ↑ Awareness: Too Much Acetaminophen? Few Seem to Know, By Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times, February 27, 2007
- ↑ Maugh II, Thomas H. (August 13, 2010). "Tylenol linked to asthma in teens". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
- ↑ Midori's Tylenol Commercial
- ↑ Tylenol Rapid Release Commercial
- ↑ Tylenol Commercial (1986)
- Pages with broken file links
- All articles with unsourced statements
- Articles with unsourced statements from July 2009
- Articles with invalid date parameter in template
- NPOV disputes from September 2010
- All NPOV disputes
- Johnson & Johnson brands
- Analgesics
- Antipyretics
- 1955 introductions
- 2Fix
- Pages with script errors
- CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list
